CUPE 116 sees red at UBC

CUPE universities job action continues this week with overtime bans and picket lines at UBC. CUPE 116 at the University of British Columbia set up picket lines early Tuesday morning shutting down the General Services Administration Building (GSAB) and Mary Bollert Hall.

The GSAB is home to UBC’s financial services, parking and access control services, supply management, information technology and human resources. CUPE 116 members were joined by sisters and brothers from CUPE 2950 who joined the picket line in solidarity.

At midday, food service workers across the campus walked off the job to participate in an information session. CUPE 116 staff at food service outlets will no longer be wearing their regular uniforms. Instead, members are wearing red shirts and distributing bargaining information to inquiring customers.

“The bargaining committee has been clear, consistent and unwavering with our message,” says CUPE 116 president Colleen Garbe. “We require a collective agreement that contains job security measures, benefit improvements and protection against inflation. Without an agreement that addresses these core issues, job action will escalate.”